3 incumbents challenged in GOP House primaries

March 10, 2006|By Richard Wronski, Tribune staff reporter

Three state representatives from the northwest suburbs are facing challenges in the Republican primary this month, while on the Democratic ballot an atheist gadfly is making his first bid for public office.

One of the more competitive races in the March 21 primary is in the 56th House District, where GOP Rep. Paul Froehlich is facing challenger Anna Klimkowicz. Both are Schaumburg residents, and the contest results more from a long-standing rift in the ranks of Schaumburg Township Republicans than differences over issues.

Froehlich also faces opposition for re-election as GOP township committeeman.

He and Klimkowicz, a longtime member of Palatine-based Township High School District 211's Board of Education, agree on several key issues: slow the growth of state spending, improve the climate for business and enhance transportation in the northwest suburbs.

But Klimkowicz said "better representation" is needed for the district.

"I felt it was time for somebody who has a feel for the community to step forward," she said.

Froehlich, who was appointed to the state House in 2003 and elected in 2004, blames former political opponents for supporting Klimkowicz against him.

"They are still licking their wounds and picking at scabs. That's part of it," he said. "But I haven't heard her raise many sharp disagreements over what I'm doing wrong or what she'll do better."

Froehlich picked up endorsements this week from eight local mayors.

In addition to Schaumburg, the 56th District includes parts of Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Roselle and Bloomingdale.

Another GOP incumbent, longtime Rep. Sidney Mathias, faces his second challenge in two years from fellow Buffalo Grove resident Scott Bludorn.

Both are seeking the Republican nomination in the 53rd House District, which also includes Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Prospect Heights and Mt. Prospect.

When Bludorn ran in the 2004 general election, he was president of the Cook County Libertarian Party. In a three-way race, he mustered about 3,600 votes to Mathias' 26,000.

Billing himself this time as a "Reagan Republican," Bludorn advocates "limited government and personal responsibility." He has been endorsed by the Wheeling Township GOP.

Mathias, a former mayor of Buffalo Grove, is seeking his fifth term in the House. He cites his expertise on municipal issues and transportation.

Two political novices, Michael MacDonald and Robert Sherman, both of Buffalo Grove, are seeking the Democratic nomination in the 53rd District.

An avowed atheist, Sherman has received much publicity over the last 20 years by tilting against what he perceived as religious intrusions on public policy and property.

But his campaign is focusing on issues such as requiring school buses to have seat belts and barring residential property taxes in favor of local income taxes. MacDonald is a retired engineer who calls for greater efficiency in government.

In the 52nd House District, five-term Rep. Mark Beaubien is being challenged by Dennis Driscoll, who as a Chicago resident ran unsuccessfully in 2000 against Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

Beaubien, a retired attorney and banker from Barrington Hills, points to his record in the legislature and his expertise as the chief House GOP budget negotiator.

Driscoll, of Round Lake, is a stocks and commodities trader. He said he would like to "change the current tax, spend and regulate atmosphere" in Illinois.

The 52nd District also includes Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Prairie Grove, part of Crystal Lake, part of McHenry, Round Lake, Round Lake Park, Wauconda, part of Cary, Fox Lake and Fox River Grove.

In the 43rd House District, Hollie Kissane, a Kane County Board member from Carpentersville, is the only candidate on the Democratic ballot. But Greg Schock, whose petitions were successfully challenged, said he is waging a vigorous write-in campaign for the nomination.

Kissane said she would push for tougher anti-crime measures and more funding for education from the legislature.

Schock, of Elgin, is calling for the legalization of sports betting in Illinois to pay for Medicare and Medicaid shortfalls and pay off state pension-fund debt.

The 43rd District covers portions of Elgin, South Elgin, Carpentersville and East Dundee. Incumbent Rep. Ruth Munson, of Elgin, is unopposed on the GOP ballot.